Former Gov. John Lynch delivered a serious message to Daniel Webster College graduates, but also peppered his remarks with amusing stories of his time in office. (BENJAMIN C. KLEIN/Union Leader Correspondent)

Lynch urges DWC grads to work to get things done

By BENJAMIN C. KLEINSunday News Correspondent

NASHUA - Families came from as far away as Germany to watch their children and friends graduate from Daniel Webster College during the 47th commencement on Saturday.

Former Gov. John Lynch delivered the commencement address, while the college also celebrated the final graduates of the long-running aviation program.

Lynch peppered his remarks with anecdotes about his time in the public and private sectors, bringing laughter to the audience more than once.

Lynch also gave the 137 graduates some advice, telling them whether in business, politics or life, one must never spend more than they are taking in.

"Nobody gets anything done working by ourselves. We get things done by working with each other," Lynch said.

He added that students should be prepared to end up in careers that they might not have expected to pursue, and to be prepared for that fact.

"It happened to me," Lynch said.

Daniel Webster spokesman Ken Belbin said that Lynch agreed to appear because of his close relationship with college President Michael Diffily.

"Governor Lynch has developed a good relationship with the president, and I think he is a wonderful choice. As governor, he was very pro-education. I don't remember the last time we even had a governor speak here. It is rare we have someone of his caliber," Belbin said.

The commencement also marked the end of an era at Daniel Webster College, as the school graduated the last five students from the school's aviation program.

To signify the moment, Diffily asked the program's graduates to take the stage with him, along with Jim Tamposi Sr., the founder of the school, so they could be presented with small, antique-style wooden wheel stops.

Don Breton and his wife, Edna, came all the way from their home in Germany to see their daughter, Keyla, graduate.

"I think it is very important, which is why we came a long way. It's really great," the proud father said.

Jim Driscol of Boston could hardly contain his pride as he talked about his son, Thomas.

"This has been something we have been looking forward to for a long time. We are really happy," he said.

Bill Downey of Franklin, Mass., joked that he was equally excited because it meant his son, Daniel, will now have to get out in the real world and find a job.

Bill Mulford of Canton, Mass., said that to him the four years his son, Eric, was at Daniel Webster seem like a blur.

"It feels like just yesterday we were dropping him off as a freshman," he said.